5 Weeks 1 Day 15 hours and 47 minutes

All three of us must apologize for the paucity of text in our recent postings. Pictures are peachy and only two of us can type with any speed or accuracy. That’s why I am dictating.

This is a long post so I will tell you now that there are 3 parts so you can skip to the parts you like.

1. Adoption related stuff

2. Parenting stuff – the trials and tribulations of a fresh parent

3. Pictures – gift outfits and general cuteness galore

1. Adoption related stuff

Birthfather rights termination-

First off let me say that as far as the adoption is going legally, we are basically in the clear. Last week we were able to terminate the birthfather’s rights by filing for the adoption in Indiana after a 30 day period had elapsed. That 30 days is the time a bf has to show up and claim custody of the child. However, laws in IN are geared very much in favor of the adoptive parents; in IN all there is a bf registry that has information on new babies and who they were born to. The bf must know this exists (very unlikely), know where to find it (not likely give point 1 is unlikely) and be willing to parent. Regardless, even if he did come forward and had all these other things mastered, the fact that he hadn’t been around at all during C’s pregnancy wouldn’t win him any points with a judge ruling on a custody issue with us. Luckily, we got it all cleared. We emailed C and told her this and got a wonderful response that was also a little interesting. She was very very excited for us and seemingly a little relieved. I don’t know if she expected the bf to do something rash like try and parent, but based on his past behavior of being 100% uninvolved that would be a big surprise to us.

2. Parenting.

It’s true, KG is getting older and bigger and is a different baby every single day. Whatever it is we think we know one week becomes obsolete and we are dumb all over again, but we are dumb in a wise way, kind of like Forrest Gump.

It has been quite a trip indeed. Unlike your typical pregnancy situation, adoptive parents don’t have the luxury of planning out their lives 8 months ahead of time. We had a couple of months, but Rachel was already slotted to teach several courses, the first one for the duration of July. So we have had to juggle KG...luckily she only weights 8 lbs 14 ozs and is very durable. She is actually quite rubbery, but I digress. Rachel teaches M-Thurs from about 11-5 depending on the particular lab day, so on those days I try to get in early and return in time for Rach to get ready. Then I stay home with KG. On days when Rach is off I am in the lab, but of course thinking about lab work and about the molecular mechanisms that contribute to engulfment in a sporulating microorganism just don’t seem as important. Smiling babies are a hell of a lot more fun than fluorescence microscopy.

However, this pattern of juggling KG will all mellow out in August when Rachel’s folks will be here for most of the month, though not all at one time. This will help immensely...thank god for parents! My mom has already put in some time watching the munchkin. And then we can’t overlook the wonderful contributions of Corinne! (of course, we’ll repay the favor when she has her own baby at home!!) But on days when I am not home, I really prioritize my workload. I be sure to get all my emailing done first thing!

So in the meantime when we are not working we relax at home with our smiling infant child who coos constantly. Oh wait, that was our neighbor’s child...sorry got confused. Kyla waits for Rachel to return and then initiates her “I love you mommy but I am going to cry inconsolably for a good while before I fall asleep in someone’s arms and only in someone’s arms. Then I will cry again if I am transferred to a crib except for rare instances when I will sleep peacefully for long long spells unattended, deceitfully lulling my parents into a ‘hey, maybe this is a turning point in her routine’ mode of thought. After that I cry a lot and writhe, often times flexing my entire body like a tetanus victim.”

We wouldn’t trade any of it.

Actually, she is not that unhappy and is now showing a huge amount of developmental progress. If I learned something as big as she does everyday Donald Trump would be shining my shoes with a toothbrush and I would own the planet Mars. She has begun to:

1. Smile in response to people (I have co-workers who are still at odds with this skill).

2. Focus on objects within 2 feet and remain focused on them.

3. Coo/make noise when happy.

4. Give some warning when not happy, a few squeaks and light cries.

It’s pretty miraculous seeing it happen so fast. It’s weird because at this rate she’ll actually be able to like WALK AROUND and stuff at least before she is 5. I know I’m in surfing in wonderland again, but dare to dream.

3. The pics!

We have decided to include a few more pics in some key outfits that were given as gifts. One was a very predictable gift from Tina K. – guess which one??
Enjoy!